Bottle cap



Dec. 15, 1964 5 (:ATES 3,161,312

BOTTLE CAP Filed Jan. 25, 1964 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,151,312 BQTTLT. CAP William E. Cates, 131 N. Wabash, Hobart, Filed Jan. 23, E64, Ser. No. 339,675

Claims. ('Cl. 2i5--4e) This invention relates to caps for bottled beverages and more particularly to an improved bottle cap which needs no external opener.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a bottle cap which will be easily removed from a bottle beverage without requiring the use of a bottle opener.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle cap which will permit the user to open the bottle with a minimum of effort and strain, especially on a picnic or the like when the opener may have been forgotten.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bottle cap which will have self-contained leverage means which will allow the bottle cap to be easily lifted from the top of the beverage bottle.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bottle cap having the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the present invention shown partly broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the invention showing the opener removed from the cap; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the opener.

Referring to the drawing, a bottle cap made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a plurality of spaced apart indentations 12 which provide a means for grippingly engaging the bottle neck 14. A circular gasket 16 of suitable material is received within cap 16 and provides sealing means against the bottle neck 14. A rectangular tab 18 extends at an angle from one side of cap 10, and a rivet 20 or other suitable fastener is received through opening 21 of tab 18 and through a plastic block 22 made of a suitable thermoplastic. One end of block 22 is provided with a tapered end 24 which bears against the outer periphery of cap 10 during the opening process.

In operation, tab 18 and block 22 are grasped between the fingers, while the bottle is held in the other hand. Block 22 is urged upwardly to remove cap 10 from bottle neck 14 with a minimum of effort.

It shall be noted that block 22 provides means for "ice preventing injury to the fingers of the operator during the opening of the bottle or removal of the cap from bottle neck 14 and further provides a comfortable grip for lifting upwardly upon tab 18 "to remove cap 1i) from bottle neck 14.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A bottle cap comprising, in combination, a circular metal section having gasket means received within said metal section for covering and capping a beverage bottle in an airtight condition, an angular tab carried by said metal section providing means for lifting said cap from said bottle neck, a thermoplastic block carried by said cap providing protection against injury to the fingers of the operator, said block having parallel, opposite longitudinal sides and parallel, top and bottom.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said tab is rectangular in configuration and extends angularly from the skirt of said cap to provide means for the operators finger to be received between and close to the skirt of said cap and said bottle so that said cap may be removed from said bottle.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein a rivet fastener is received Within an opening through said tab and said rivet is received through said block to provide suitable area for gripping said tab of said cap for easy raising and lifting of said cap from said bottle neck, said tab being parallel to the adjacent bottom of said block.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said block abuts with said tab on one side when lifting said cap from said bottle and provides a positive holding means and support means for said tab when the tapered end of said block abuts against the outer periphery of a portion of said cap when being removed from said bottle.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the square end of said block is flush with the lower extremity of said tab and prevents injury to the person lifting upwardly upon said tab when removing said cap from said bottle neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,046,173 Lenhofi' June 30, 1936 2,244,625 King June 3, 1941 2,757,814 Schmitz Aug. 7, 1956 2,851,184 StrOde Sept. 9, 1958 

1. A BOTTLE CAP COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CIRCULAR METAL SECTION HAVING GASKET MEANS RECEIVED WITHIN SAID METAL SECTION FOR COVERING AND CAPPING A BEVERAGE BOTTLE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONDITION, AN ANGULAR TAB CARRIED BY SAID METAL SECTION PROVIDING MEANS FOR LIFTING SAID CAP FROM SAID BOTTLE NECK, A THERMOPLASTIC BLOCK CARRIED BY SAID CAP PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST INJURY TO THE FINGERS OF THE OPERATOR, SAID BLOCK HAVING PARALLEL, OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL SIDES AND PARALLEL, TOP AND BOTTOM. 